[DM-MUG] Keyboard question

[AB]

I use a toothpick to get in the crevices. . after i se the toothpick to the open gaps (between the main alpha keys and the arrow and number keys) I take a qtip or cotton swab to lift the grime, crumbs, etc. then I turn the keyboard upside down to shake out anything i can loose and out. Sometimes i use the attachment hose on the vacuum or a hand held vacuum because I always forget to buy the canned compressed air, but want to get the pet hair out. 

To get ickyness off the keys I spray a paper towel with windex or another very mild cleaning solvent/glass/multi-surface and clean mmy keyboard with it. it actually works to resist the oils from your fingers and hands. Never run a keyboard under the facet and never submerge in a tub or sink of water. The keyboard drowns. I tried this when was 14 and the most computer savvy of my friends and family. Literally, the keyboard is never the same. There are people out there who have come up with elaborate methods of disassembling and popping off the keys to clean and reattach. This is not my personal preference. Those people report the process as 45 minutes from start to finish.

For the scroll ball on the mouse, I use the same mild cleaning agent on a qtip or paper towel and move the scroll ball around, then i take a dry paper towel and move the scroll ball around to get the moisture off to avoid moisture build up inside the mouse. I repeat this until it works as it should. Otherwise I just bang the mouse on the mousepad a few times. this method worked for 2 years until i ended up googling how to clean it and tried my own method with the cleaning solvent. I also sent feedback to apple telling them they need to include cleaning instructions for peripherals. on non-apple mouses I know IT pros use a qtip dipped in rubbing alcohol. I didn't have rubbing alcohol so I just use Windex. 

For LCD screns I use a microfiber cloth. I'm not sure what agent to use... and it's usually just fingerprints anyways. But I'd assume you could use the same lens or electronics cleaner for cameras and televisions. 

There are spill proof keyboards, though they feel very odd to the tactile senses. Some of them roll up too. 

What can I say, I'm frugal. and some peripherals are not worth replacing unless necessary. $50 is alot of windex and papertowels ;) and I could get come coffee and cookies. :)

--- On Thu, 1/29/09, Yanik Dhont <yanik at mac.com> wrote:

> From: Yanik Dhont <yanik at mac.com>
> Subject: Re: [DM-MUG] Keyboard question
> To: "Des Moines Mac Users Group" <dmmug at dmmug.org>
> Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 8:41 PM
> May I suggest the iSkin products if you wish to protect your
> keyboards:
> 
> They're actually on clearance now
> 
> http://www.iskin.com/store/i2shop_clearance.tpl?page=protouch&cart=1233282897357408
> 
> I've also enjoyed keyboards from Adesso, especially the
> ergonomic ones.
> 
> http://www.adesso.com/products.asp?categoryid=8
> 
> warm regards
> 
> Yanik (aka Wingman)
> 
> On Jan 29, 2009, at 2:37 PM, Jon Engelhardt wrote:
> 
> > I did stop at the Apple store yesterday and picked up
> the wired version, I already like it much better, seems like
> a good value for $50!  Thanks everyone for you advice and
> I'm going to try harder to keep coffee and the
> occasional cookie away.
> > Jon
> > On Jan 29, 2009, at 2:30 PM, Sharalyn wrote:
> > 
> >> I prefer the wireless keyboard to the white wired
> one because the keys are
> >> easier to push, but if this is the route you go,
> be sure and get a cover for
> >> it as there isn't any way a user can clean it
> if crumbs, etc. get under the
> >> keys. Mine is in the shop right now for that very
> problem and as cleaaning
> >> is not covered by warranty, Apple encourged me to
> not think in terms of
> >> trying to take it apart to clean it myself.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> On 1/28/09 9:57 AM, "John Rearick"
> <jrearick at bobbis.net> wrote:
> >> 
> >>> One thing to keep in mind about the Apple
> aluminum keyboard is that
> >>> there is no number pad on the wireless version
> (bluetooth).  The wired
> >>> (USB) aluminum keyboard is a full keyboard
> with number pad.
> >>> 
> >>> I have been happy with the previous revision
> of Apple's keyboards
> >>> (white, full-sized).  The previous revision
> has the same layout with
> >>> number pad for wired and wireless.  There are
> also third party
> >>> keyboards that I haven't used.
> >>> 
> >>> John
> >>> 
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